Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is set to return to the field after not playing football since the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl win. Over 30 years old and coming off a torn ACL, it’s fair to wonder what Beckham has left. Should fantasy football managers draft Beckham at his ADP this season?
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Odell Beckham Jr.’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
After over two decades of largely ignoring the wide receiver position, the Ravens made significant investments to improve it ahead of the upcoming season. One of those moves was signing Beckham.
When we last saw Beckham, he was helping the Rams win a Super Bowl before he tore his ACL. During the 2021 season, Beckham was quite clearly not his elite WR1 self from the mid-2010s, but he also wasn’t washed. He was somewhere in the middle. If we get that version of Beckham in 2023, there might be something here for fantasy football.
Of course, I would be remiss not to point out the risks. Beckham will turn 31 years old during the upcoming season. He hasn’t played football in two years. He’s torn his ACL more than once and dealt with hip injuries and other issues. Beckham is an older player who has not been fully healthy in four years.
Additionally, the Ravens have 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman and rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers on the roster. Both of these players are under 24 years old. If they are healthy and as good as we believe them to be, they are both going to out-target the soon-to-be 31-year-old.
Furthermore, none of the WRs are going to lead this team in targets. That honor goes to Mark Andrews, who will remain locked in as Lamar Jackson’s primary option in the passing game.
Since 2019, no team has run the ball at a more frequent rate in a neutral game script than the Ravens (53%). Offensive changes are coming with Todd Monken taking over as offensive coordinator, but as long as Jackson is the QB1, this offense will always be run-heavy.
Is Beckham a Good Fantasy Pick?
As with 99% of players, it all comes down to cost. Beckham’s ADP is currently WR44, No. 116 overall, and the highest among Ravens WRs. For what it’s worth, in fantasy mock drafts I’ve conducted in the PFN Discord, I’ve never seen Beckham get selected before Flowers. So, ADP may be a bit unreliable here.
Nevertheless, Beckham is being selected as a WR4/5, and I just can’t justify it. I have Beckham ranked as my WR53 and firmly believe he is there to fill a niche role and provide a veteran presence. He will be reliable for Jackson, but it’s difficult to envision him being productive for fantasy managers.
MORE: 2023 Dynasty WR Rankings
Beckham landed at WR51 in our PFN Consensus Rankings, and all of us are pretty close to each other in individual rank.
I’m not saying Beckham is worthless or completely not worth drafting, but I’m certainly not taking him ahead of the Ravens’ other two younger, more explosive receivers.
Jackson is not going to support three fantasy-relevant WRs. He might not even be able to support two. I firmly believe Beckham is third. As a result, he’s not someone to draft unless he falls below ADP.
